Haiti Today: People, Culture & Politics
Port-au-Prince and Les Cayes, Haiti
The Department of Africana Studies, along with the College of Advancing and Professional Studies, is pleased to announce Haiti Today
Highlights
- Opportunities for service learning projects.
- Students will visit significant historical, cultural, and ecological sites in various towns including day trips to St. Marc, Gonaives and Kenscoff.
- A three-day eco-excursion to the beautiful, artistic and lit¬erary town of Jacmel in southeastern Haiti.
- A three-day historic and cultural field trip to the north in Cap Haitien to visit the Citadel and King Henri Christophe’s Sans-Souci palace ruins in the town of Milot.
About the Program
Haiti today is a unique academic program on the island of Haiti. This program explores the history, politics, culture, and the economic and social developments taking place in Haiti, from both external and internal perspectives. It will facilitate students’ understanding of Haiti through total immersion into culture, environment, language, and the country’s economic, political and social realities.
Haiti (or AYITI) is an Awarak-derived name for the second largest island in the Caribbean, housing both the Republic of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. In 1804, Haiti became the second country in the Americas, after the United States, to break ties with colonial rule and has had an extraordinary social and political history since its independence.
Additional activities include presentations by UEH faculty, local experts, participation in local cultural events, and meetings with civic and political leaders. Students are expected to attend two preparatory sessions at UMass Boston, read the assigned materials, and be prepared to participate in class discussions.
In addition to attending daily class seminars, students will participate in field trips to museums, ecological, and historical sites, as well as work in small field service learning projects. The program will take place on various campuses of L’Université d’Etat d’Haiti located in Port-au-Prince, and also with partnering institution, L’Université Publique du Sud aux Cayes (UPSAC), and Cap-Haïtien (UPNCH).
Faculty
Marc Prou - Program Director. Professor Prou is Chair of the Africana Studies Department and director of the Haitian Institute. He has considerable travel and study experience in Caribbean countries, and regularly takes study groups abroad to Cuba, Jamaica and Haiti.
Robert Sinclair - Professor Emeritus, University of Massachusetts Amherst. Professor Robert Sinclair will join Professor Prou this summer as Visiting Scholar in Residence. He has travelled extensively throughout Haiti and has accompanied UMass Boston students in numerous Haiti Today programs.
Shauna Murray - Research Assistant. The faculty will be assisted by Shauna Murray for all logistical inquiries.
Courses and Credit
Participants have the option to register for one or two courses (three credits each):
- AFRSTY 480 Haiti: Culture and Politics
- AFRSTY 478, Independent Study
AFRSTY 478 will be completed after the participants return from Haiti.
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be awarded six credits by the Africana Studies Department.
By special permission, students may receive credit for independent study from the Political Science Department or the International Relations program.
A non-credit option is available based on space availability.
This program is open to UMass Boston students and welcomes undergraduate and graduate students from other colleges and universities, along with college and K-12 educators.
Disclaimer
Please note: The above program is subject to change at any time due to circumstances beyond our control; this includes any and all fees, dates, itinerary, and program activities. We will do our reasonable best to inform all applicants of any changes in as timely a manner as possible.
